enquiry

UK: /ɪnˈkwaɪəri/

US: /ɛnˈkwaɪri, ˈɛnkwəri/

US: (en kwī^ər′ē, en′kwə rē)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

en•quir•y /ɛnˈkwaɪri, ˈɛnkwəri/   n., pl. -quir•ies. 

1. inquiry.

See -quir-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

en•quir•y  (en kwī^ər′ē, en′kwə rē), n., pl. -quir•ies. 

1. inquiry.

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•quir•y /ɪnˈkwaɪri, ˈɪnkwəri/  also enquiry, n., pl. -quir•ies. 

1. a seeking or request for truth, information, or knowledge:
   [uncountable] Further inquiry turned up no new evidence.
   [countable] Additional inquiries on the computer show no more sources on that topic.
2. an investigation, as into an incident:
   [countable] ordered an inquiry into the death of his previous wife.
3. a question;
   query:
   [countable] inquiries as to her name and address.

See -quir-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•quir•y  (in kwī^ər′ē, in′kwə rē), n., pl. -quir•ies. 

1. a seeking or request for truth, information, or knowledge.
2. an investigation, as into an incident:
   a Congressional inquiry into the bribery charges.
3. the act of inquiring or of seeking information by questioning;
   interrogation.
4. a question;
   query.

Also, enquiry. 

• 1400–50; inquire + -y³; replacing late Middle English enquery

Synonyms

• 1. study, scrutiny, exploration. See investigation. 

Antonyms

• 4. answer, reply.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

inquiry, enquiry / ɪnˈkwaɪərɪ/ noun ( -ries)

1. a request for information; a question
2. an investigation, esp a formal one conducted into a matter of public concern by a body constituted for that purpose by a government, local authority, or other organization